Revolting Sofas

Despicable Daybeds. Outstanding Oeuvres.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

“May I kiss you on the lips?” That’s what Dickie asks, away from prying eyes and out of earshot from his wife. He needn’t bother to ask—Bitsy is secretly thrilled to ﬁnd him waiting for her outside the ladies’ lounge. During cocktails at the club, they neck on the couch inside the powder room. That night, her green blouse and pink skirt match the colors of the cushions perfectly. “It’s a Monet,” Dickie whispers huskily in her ear, as she ﬁnds herself eagerly pinned and sinking lower. “A work of art, just like you.” Afterwards, an angry hickey blooms on Bitsy’s neck, a bruised flower with a broken stem.

For months, the scandal is all anyone can discuss—at brunch, on the golf course and in the cotillion. “He’s such a charmer!” all her friends gush. Bitsy feels dizzy, intoxicated, lucky. Colors seem brighter, laughter flows, the conversation turns raucous. When Bitsy gets pregnant, Dickie’s wife ﬁles for divorce and decides to move her children to North Carolina to be closer to her parents.

After the club closes, Bitsy ﬁnds the couch in a church basement 17 years later. Transﬁxed, she thinks she might sink into its forgiving softness if she could, the cool, frayed fabric feels so intimate and knowing. Now that Dickie is sober, he doesn’t care about cocktails at the club, giggling girls, or Monet. Well, Bitsy would remember for him. And sit there, remembering.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

WANDS

When I was youngand had the power to putpower in my hands,I built magic wands out of Legos.I used the square blocks (four pegs)and used only two colors,alternating,until all those pieces were inthe wand.

Yellow and black in a smallstack is the bee’s flag.Fear and the sting, fireand the ash. The letterson plastic police tape.Its colors came inand mixed a drinkof power and remains.

Blue and white is the wandof snow and ice, solitudein the easy, empty world.I turned it over and overas if you’d find a toothfrozen inside. The airit turned it was softand patient.

Red and blue movedagainst my eyeslike the colorswanted to leapoff the blocks and meltinto violet light.Boy and blood, waterand lava. Cardinaland Jay—the onesthat hoppedon my grandma’s lawn.This is the one I carriedmost of the time.I melted down its poweronly for the buildingof enormous,temporary machines.